loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

Stranding Location: Barnstable, MA

Arrival Date: 01/14/2013

Age: juvenile

Weight: 16.20 kg (~ 35 lb.)

Case History

Taylor is one of five sea turtles transferred to the South Carolina Aquarium’s (SCA) Sea Turtle Hospital on January 14th, 2012, from the New England Aquarium (NEAq). All five turtles originally cold-stunned around Cape Cod, MA, in November and December 2012, and were initially treated by NEAq’s Marine Animal Rescue Team. Talyor is the only loggerhead out of the 15 sea turtles transferred to the South Carolina Aquarium.This is the largest cold stunning event to occur along the New England coast. Thanks Michael Taylor, these five turtles received complimentary first-class airfare to our facility to finish their rehabilitation. This transfer not only aids NEAq by freeing up limited resources, but also will allow these five sea turtles to be released back into the wild at an earlier date.

Treatment

Thanks to the great care provided by NEAq, Taylor’s treatment consisted of simply finishing his round of antibiotics. He has been put on a healthy, diverse diet to encourage a bit of weight gain, and is doing very well in his tank of filtered water.